Friday, April 26, 2024

European Strategic Seafood Alliance launched at Seafood Expo with a united call: 'Eat Fish'

April 26, 2024 - AIPCE CEP, EAPO, EUROPECHE and FEAP, representing the EU fisheries and aquaculture industries, recently announce their intent to form a strategic alliance aimed at advancing shared goals and promoting critical industry priorities on a broader stage at the Seafood Expo Global in Barcelona.

Gus Pastoor (President AIPCE), Lara Barazi (FEAP), Yobana Bermudez (President CEP), Javier Garat (President EUROPECHE) and Esben Sverdrup-Jensen (President EAPO).

Through this alliance, they seek to amplify their impact by forging common ground and promoting collaborative initiatives to reach out to a wider audience. "We need society to be aware that fishery and aquaculture products represent a low-carbon source of animal protein that offers significant advantages for human health, climate impact and sustainability. Seafood consumption is good for the people's and planet's health."

By uniting efforts, the alliance intends to bring these topics to the forefront of EU and global policy discussions. "We believe that by aligning our efforts, we can achieve meaningful progress in advancing the positive message of seafood consumption," said the representatives from the five associations. "Together, we can effectively communicate the value of our products, advocate for supportive policies and drive positive change."

During the gathering there was a unanimous call to return to a model within the EU institutions where primary food production, including fisheries and aquaculture, is prioritised alongside agriculture to ensure food security in our market.

The repositioning of the fisheries and aquaculture mandate high in the European Commission's agenda is crucial and should be implemented during the upcoming political mandate period (2024-2029). This adjustment aligns with the structural framework outlines in the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, which considers agriculture and fisheries as separate but equally significant EU policies.

The alliance also aims to raise consumer awareness regarding how seafood is produced, their nutritional benefits and the people behind the products they buy.

This collaborative effort marks a significant step forward in advancing the EU fisheries and aquaculture aspirations and underscores the commitment of AIPCE CEP, EAPO, EUROPECHE and FEAP to drive positive change through coordinated action.

For more information, visit HERE.

The Aquaculturists

BAADER and Grieg Seafood Forge a Landmark Deal at SPG Barcelona

April 26, 2024 - In a pivotal industry event held at SPG in Barcelona, BAADER and Grieg Seafood have sealed a substantial agreement. BAADER is set to outfit the new Grieg Seafood facility with a state-of-the-art post-rigor fillet solution. This cutting-edge plant is slated for completion in the summer of 2025, and will be situated at Gardermoen near Oslo.


Grieg Seafood has handpicked BAADER as their partner, entrusting them with the mission to establish the most innovative and leading-edge salmon processing plant in the market. Modulf Barstad of BAADER Norway shares their enthusiasm: "Being selected to supply equipment for such a benchmark project fills us with pride. The plant is destined to set a new standard for the salmon industry." He reflects on the collaborative journey: "Our partnership with Grieg Seafood has been intensive and constructive. We've leveraged our collective expertise and insights throughout every phase." He concludes with commendation for Grieg's approach: "Their responsiveness and the meticulous execution of the project are truly commendable." Business Development Director at Grieg Seafood, Piotr C. Wingaard comments on the deal: “Our factory is one of few salmon processing plants in Norway which have been built from the ground up. Therefore, it will be a state-of-the-art facility, something which we are very proud of”.

BAADER ́s delivery spans from the reception of raw material on one end to finished product on pallets on the other end. In the state-of-the-art fillet factory, salmon undergoes sorting before entering the fillet line optimising products for Grieg Seafood ́s customers. Within the fillet line, the BA581 Pro ensures maximum yield, while the BA1860 fillet meticulously sorts and distributes individual fillets to create a flawless product. The factory will be equipped with fully automatic freezer for by-products and finished goods, guaranteeing 100 percent utilisation and top quality of all parts of the fish. BAADER will deliver both mechanical components and software for the entire order from Grieg Seafood.

Most Advanced Equipment

Grieg Seafood set the bar exceptionally high, aiming for the most cutting-edge salmon procession plant ever constructed in Norway. Their ambitious vision led them to consider only one relevant supplier. “We have worked closely with BAADER for a long time and have a very good knowledge of their equipment and technology. We recognised early on that BAADER has the best and most advanced equipment on the market”, says Grieg-director Wingaard. He adds: “Nevertheless, it was almost more decisive that they could contribute to the design phase as well so we could create a factory with the best possible flow, and which utilises the area to the fullest. We knew they would deliver state of the art in the design area and planning as well with expertise they have in Norway.”

The Norwegian seafood company is unwavering in its belief that the inclusion of technology supplier BAADER from the outset is the cornerstone of success for their new processing plant. "With absolute certainty, we knew that involving BAADER from the beginning was imperative," Wingaard states. "This collaboration offered us the unique opportunity to approach the construction of our salmon processing factory in a way that deviates from traditional methods. This was crucial for us, allowing us to realise our vision for the facility."

The company holds BAADER's contributions in high regard. "BAADER's involvement has been extraordinary, actively engaging in all aspects of our building's design process," notes Wingaard. "Their expertise surpasses the usual expectations of a technology and equipment supplier. Their influence permeates through every aspect of our operations, especially since BAADER's equipment is the linchpin of our factory."

The Grieg-director also acknowledges BAADER's track record for reliable equipment. "We've always been confident in BAADER's ability to provide dependable equipment. They offer unparalleled equipment reliability, with minimal downtime, less maintenance, and longevity that sets them apart. Moreover, their software solutions are exceptional and perfectly suited to our needs," explains Wingaard.

A 130 Million NOK Investment

Grieg Seafood is charting a new course with a NOK 130 million investment in a Gardermoen facility, aiming to move closer to consumers by extending their value chain. This shift includes a transition from solely supplying raw materials to also delivering 25 percent of their products as finished goods, alongside a heightened emphasis on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles. The strategy, according to Wingaard, involves reducing climate impact by substituting airfreighted whole fish with locally processed fillets.

For more information, visit HERE.

The Aquaculturists

Thursday, April 25, 2024

Mowi’s lawsuit against ‘salmon tax’ dismissed

April 25, 2024 - Mowi’s lawsuit against Norwegian salmon production tax has been dismissed by Hordaland District Court, as per Norwegian news reports.


Mowi, world’s largest salmon farmer, sued the Norwegian government last year as they believe the law is in breach of the EEA rules and the four freedoms, including the free flow of capital.

"The district court has, in the state's view, came to the correct result that the lawsuit from Mowi must be dismissed," said Government Attorney Fredrik Sejersted, according to Norwegian newspaper E24.

The Sejersted added that Mowi will still be able to file a lawsuit at a later date when the company has received a concrete tax decision.

The new aquaculture tax plan, which came into effect on last year, makes its discretionary for salmon farmers to pay a basic rent tax of 25 percent on the profit from their sea-based farming activities, in addition to a 22 percent corporation tax. But this ground tax is applicable only to profits over NOK 70 million.

The deduction was introduced with a desire to protect the smaller players. In this way, the companies with the largest profits will pay the basic interest tax. At the same time, the deduction will also reduce the large companies' tax base.

In 2023 the company had a turnover of EUR 5.5 billion. 

The Aquaculturists